All-Greater Houston Boys player of the year: Justise Winslow, St. John's

Updated 10:49 am, Sunday, March 23, 2014

St. John's Justise Winslow has taken all of his high school success in stride.

St. John's Justise Winslow has taken all of his high school success in stride.

Photo: Michael Starghill, Jr., Photographer

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Boys Player of the Year

Justise Winslow
Sr., G, St. John's

Boys Player of the Year

Justise Winslow
Sr., G, St. John's

Photo: Michael Starghill Jr., For The Chronicle

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St. John's senior guard Justice Winslow finishes a dunk against Euless Trinity during their game as part of the John Lucas Fonde Hall of Fame Games at Fonde Rec Center on Saturday.

St. John's senior guard Justice Winslow finishes a dunk against Euless Trinity during their game as part of the John Lucas Fonde Hall of Fame Games at Fonde Rec Center on Saturday.

Photo: Jerry Baker, For The Chronicle

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St. John's senior guard Justice Winslow calls a play for the Mavericks against Euless Trinity during their game as part of the John Lucas Fonde Hall of Fame Games at Fonde Rec Center on Saturday.

St. John's senior guard Justice Winslow calls a play for the Mavericks against Euless Trinity during their game as part of the John Lucas Fonde Hall of Fame Games at Fonde Rec Center on Saturday.

Photo: Jerry Baker, For The Chronicle

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St. John's senior guard Justice Winslow calls a play for the Mavericks during their game versus Euless Trinity as part of the John Lucas Fonde Hall of Fame Games at Fonde Rec Center on Saturday.

St. John's senior guard Justice Winslow calls a play for the Mavericks during their game versus Euless Trinity as part of the John Lucas Fonde Hall of Fame Games at Fonde Rec Center on Saturday.

Photo: Jerry Baker, For The Chronicle

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St. John's senior guard Justice Winslow, right, drives past Euless Trinity senior guard Cory Carter during their game as part of the John Lucas Fonde Hall of Fame Games at Fonde Rec Center on Saturday.

St. John's senior guard Justice Winslow, right, drives past Euless Trinity senior guard Cory Carter during their game as part of the John Lucas Fonde Hall of Fame Games at Fonde Rec Center on Saturday.

Photo: Jerry Baker, For The Chronicle

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St. John's senior Justice Winslow reaches to pick up a Duke hat announces his decision to play basketball at the North Carolina school Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

St. John's senior Justice Winslow reaches to pick up a Duke hat announces his decision to play basketball at the North Carolina school Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

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St. John's senior Justice Winslow pauses as he announces his decision to play basketball at Duke Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston. Winslow is flanked by his father, Rickie Winslow, left, and mother Robin Davis, right. less

St. John's senior Justice Winslow pauses as he announces his decision to play basketball at Duke Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston. Winslow is flanked by his father, Rickie Winslow, left, and mother Robin ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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St. John's senior Justice Winslow reaches to pick up a Duke hat announces his decision to play basketball at the North Carolina school Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston.

St. John's senior Justice Winslow reaches to pick up a Duke hat announces his decision to play basketball at the North Carolina school Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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St. John's senior Justice Winslow places a Duke hat on his head as he announces his decision to play basketball at the North Carolina school Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston.

St. John's senior Justice Winslow places a Duke hat on his head as he announces his decision to play basketball at the North Carolina school Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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St. John's senior Justice Winslow is embraced by his father, Rickie Winslow, after announcing his decision to play basketball at Duke Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston.

St. John's senior Justice Winslow is embraced by his father, Rickie Winslow, after announcing his decision to play basketball at Duke Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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Silly string flies as St. John's senior Justice Winslow announces his decision to play basketball at Duke Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston. Winslow is flanked by his parents, Rickie Winslow, left, and mother Robin Davis, right. less

Silly string flies as St. John's senior Justice Winslow announces his decision to play basketball at Duke Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston. Winslow is flanked by his parents, Rickie Winslow, left, and mother ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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St. John's senior Justice Winslow works on a defensive drill after announcing his decision to play basketball at Duke Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston.

St. John's senior Justice Winslow works on a defensive drill after announcing his decision to play basketball at Duke Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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St. John's senior Justice Winslow pauses as he announces his decision to play basketball at Duke Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston. Winslow is flanked by his father, Rickie Winslow, left, and mother Robin Davis, right. less

St. John's senior Justice Winslow pauses as he announces his decision to play basketball at Duke Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in Houston. Winslow is flanked by his father, Rickie Winslow, left, and mother Robin ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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Justise Winslow of Houston, won a gold medal in the FIBA under 17 World Championships. Photographed, Saturday, July 14, 2012, in Houston. ( Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle )

Justise Winslow of Houston, won a gold medal in the FIBA under 17 World Championships. Photographed, Saturday, July 14, 2012, in Houston. ( Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff

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Justise Winslow, who won a gold medal in the FIBA under 17 World Championships last year, will play for Team USA at the U-19 tournament in the Czech Republic next week.

Justise Winslow, who won a gold medal in the FIBA under 17 World Championships last year, will play for Team USA at the U-19 tournament in the Czech Republic next week.

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff

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St. John's senior Justise Winslow, with a national reputation, has been selected for the 12-man USA Basketball Under-19 squad to play at the FIBA World Championships in the Czech Republic.

St. John's senior Justise Winslow, with a national reputation, has been selected for the 12-man USA Basketball Under-19 squad to play at the FIBA World Championships in the Czech Republic.

Justise Winslow (#42) with St. John's drives to the basket during their game with Lamar 11/18/11. Photo by Tony Bullard.

Justise Winslow (#42) with St. John's drives to the basket during their game with Lamar 11/18/11. Photo by Tony Bullard.

Photo: Tony Bullard

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JustiseWinslow of St. Johns charges up the court during the Lamar game Friday night. Photo by Matthew White

JustiseWinslow of St. Johns charges up the court during the Lamar game Friday night. Photo by Matthew White

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All-Greater Houston Boys player of the year: Justise Winslow, St. John's

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Justise Winslow started his career at St. John's with a league championship and went out in the same fashion. The reigning Gatorade Texas Player of the Year averaged 27.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.8 steals per game this season for the Mavericks, who beat Kinkaid for the program's third SPC Division I crown in four years. The Duke signee is also a McDonald's All-American and will play in the prestigious Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoops Summit.

Q: What is your top memory from playing at St. John's?

A: Winning that first championship (in 2011) because that really just put everything in motion. That grew the program's confidence as a whole. At first, we believed, but then after that, we really thought it was possible to win. My class went all four years, so just getting that buzzer-beater freshman year and what it did for our school, for Houston and just finally winning after 33 years.

A: I really enjoyed it and it kept thing interesting for me. I don't try to limit myself or put any boundaries on myself - I try to do anything possible. Guarding the center, guarding the point guard, rebounding or pushing the ball - all those things make me more of a complete player.Sometimes I didn't know if I could do it, but I gave my best effort and I think that made me a better player at the end of the day.

Q: What about being a marked man every time you played?

A: It's been a bit of a challenge mentally. You don't quite understand it when you're younger but every night, the opposing team knows who you are and they want to give you their best shot. As a I got older, I started to understand that and I started going at older guys harder. I just had to come mentally prepared to play because I had that target on my back.

Q: What's the one thing you heard from opposing fans that sticks out?

A: They were tough. Just always nagging me and you hear crazy stuff. They talk about your family, talk about your girlfriend. That's probably the craziest thing I heard - them chanting "ex-girlfriend" or something like that. I kind of feed off that sometimes - it makes me angry and play harder. In a way, I like playing in an away against a rival more than a home game just because I'd rather silence an away crowd than boost up a home crowd.

Q: In your time here, who was the player you enjoyed going against the most?

A: I liked playing against Ken Williams just because he went to Episcopal. Played him for three years - I had two championships and he had one in those three years but every time we played, it was a big rivalry game. Ken came to play, he competes and he talks trash but he can back it up, especially on that big stage.

Q: How is it being a basketball legacy in Houston?

A: It's definitely tough. People have expectations and for me, they want me to be exactly like my father. There's nothing wrong with that but I have to find a way to be myself. I'm unique in my own way and I do things differently. I got some good genes from him. There is some pressure but it's not a bad thing.